Adding Small Numbers

Joyful Mathematics 2 — Add Our Points. Combining small groups of objects to find "how many in all" mirrors the point-adding games in this chapter.

• To add two single-digit (or near single-digit) numbers with sums up to 18.
• To use counting on from the bigger number.
• That addition means "put together" or "how many in all".

Verbal: When two groups join, count all the objects together — that is addition.

Symbolic: a + b = sum. Example: 7 + 8 = 15.

Level 1 — Counting on

Start at the bigger number and count on: for 6 + 3, start at 6, count "7, 8, 9" → 9.

Level 1 — Number bonds to 10

Pairs that make 10: 1+9, 2+8, 3+7, 4+6, 5+5. Knowing these makes bigger sums easy.

Level 2 — Near-ten trick

6 + 7 = 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13. Doubling a nearby number, then adjusting by 1.

Meera has 8 flowers. She picks 6 more. How many flowers now?

Step 1 — Start at the bigger number: 8
Step 2 — Count on 6 more: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Answer: 14 flowers

• What is 9 + 6?
• Which pair makes 10: 4 + 6 or 4 + 5?
• Ravi has 7 pencils and gets 5 more. How many now?

Stretch: Add 9 + 8 using the near-ten trick (9 + 9 − 1).

Revision tip: Practise number bonds to 10 daily with buttons or seeds — it makes every future sum faster.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Adding Small Numbers.